Using a handheld ecard device, Sue completed the transaction and handed her the receipt. After she left, Arlen made a move to get up.
Harlow stopped him. “Before you go, I have something for you.”
“For me?”
She reached into her sling bag and removed the envelope, silently praying the teen would accept the gift that would open doors and set her young friend on the path to a bright future.
Chapter 18
“You wouldn’t let me pay you for fixing my bike tire. Whenever I mention your name around town, islanders do nothing but sing your praises…telling me how thoughtful you are, how you go above and beyond to help someone in need.”
Arlen squirmed, uncomfortable with the praise Harlow was heaping on him. “I’m just doing my job.”
“Plus some.” She paused, choosing her next words carefully. “I don’t know if you heard the story about how I lost my mom in a fire at Wynn Harbor Inn.”
“I-I have and I’m sorry.” Arlen blinked rapidly. “I lost my parents too, in a way. They…uh…couldn’t take care of me, so Uncle Joe took me in.”
Her voice grew soft. “It’s tough, isn’t it?”
“Some days are better than others.” He lowered his head, but not before Harlow noticed the unshed tears in his eyes. “I still miss them and wonder what I did wrong.”
“Why would you think you did something wrong? Not everyone is cut out to be a parent.” She reached across the table and grasped his hand. “I sometimes go to my mom’s grave to feel close to her and talk to her.”
Although he didn’t respond, Harlow knew he was listening. “It’s okay to feel sad when you lose someone who was such a big part of your life, no matter what the circumstances. I didn’t bring it up to upset you. What I’m getting at is that I know your uncle took you in. He lets you work at the bike shop to earn some spending money.”
“Uncle Joe is like a second dad to me. I’m not sure where I would be if he didn’t want me,” Arlen whispered.
Harlow sucked in a breath. “You’ve heard my father is rebuilding Wynn Harbor Inn.”
“Yeah. I wasn’t here to see it when it was open, but I bet it’s gonna be awesome.”
“You’ll have to come check it out. I worked at the inn growing up.”
“You did?”
She nodded. “Waiting tables, checking people in, cleaning rooms. I did whatever my parents needed.”
“Before you got famous?”
“Way before.” Harlow released her grip on his hand. “A lot of people don’t know this story, but I also worked part time at the Grand Hotel.”
“The Grand Hotel bike shop manager offered me a job, but I want to hang around and help Uncle Joe for as long as I can,” Arlen said. “Did you like working at the big hotel?”
“It’s beautiful. Lots of famous people visit and stay there.”
“I’ve seen a few.”
“A talent scout who worked for a top modeling agency was staying at the hotel. He spotted me waiting tables and invited me to New York. It jumpstarted my modeling career and eventually led to movie offers.”
“That’s cool.”
“Looking back, I was in the right place at the right time. I’m a firm believer that nothing happens by accident. We’re all put in certain places for specific reasons.”
“Me too,” the teen agreed.
“Back to my family’s inn. Money was always tight during the slow winter months.”
Their eyes met, and Arlen nodded. “Same for us. Uncle Joe is careful to save enough money to get through the long winters.”
